JACKSONVILLE – Mother nature forced the Jacksonville State football team to practice at Burgess-Snow Field for the first time this fall camp season on Thursday as non-stop rains washed away any chances of the Gamecocks stepping foot on the grass practice field.
 
But despite the inclement weather, head coach John Grass had zero complaints.
 
"It was a lot better than it being 95 degrees and humid," Grass said following practice. "It was a little soggy, but it was great to get a little break from the heat, and it really helped us to have a good practice."
 
For the second day in a row, JSU football found shade under gray clouds and completed its sixth practice session of the fall. The Gamecocks were back in shells for a lighter, cooler practice as opposed to Tuesday's full-pads exercise. Thursday has the team scheduled to be back in full pads early.
 
"We're looking to really get after it tomorrow morning," Grass said. "We're still expecting more rain tomorrow, so hopefully the 9:40 a.m. start will help us avoid it."
 
While the rain showers didn't do the JSU ball handlers any favors, the linebackers group took full advantage of the weather and beared down on the offense. Grass has taken notice of the group's improved play throughout fall camp and was quick to point out the senior leadership of Quan Stoudemire.
 
"It's just a really talented group and Quan is doing a great job of being the leader of that young unit," Grass said.
 
Grass expects Stoudemire to step into the role left by former Gamecock Joel McCandless following the 2017 season. Along with being a perennial Ohio Valley Conference preseason and postseason honoree, McCandless was an outspoken leader who led by example.
 
"Quan has played a lot of snaps, and I believe he is someone who can step into that vacancy left by Joel. Joel was a vocal leader who was also a leader in the way he handled his job, and I think Quan can do that."
 
While the Gamecocks have a lot of experience returning with Stoudemire, the senior will have a handful of underclassmen fighting for starting spots alongside their captain.
 
"We have a bunch of young guys who are doing really well," Grass said. "Jalen Choice, Zack Woodard, Zsajuan Powe, Bryce Handy… those guys are all battling for spots, and we feel like we have about five guys who ready to play right now. We're excited about seeing them on the field because they're an athletic group."
 
Along with Stoudemire becoming acclimated as the senior leader of the linebackers, first-year defensive coordinator Andrew Warwick is also settling in as the linebackers' coach. Warwick joined the coaching staff in the spring, coming to Jacksonville State from Clemson where he served as the Tigers' Director for Defensive Player Development.
 
"He is doing a good job," Grass said. "He was thrown into a situation where we lost both defensive coordinators in David Blackwell and Brandon Hall, and Coach Blackwell was our linebackers coach.
 
"He's done a great job of taking over a young bunch of guys and challenging them. He's challenged them mentally, getting them better schematically. I look for them to have a productive year."
 
JSU opens its season on Aug. 25 vs. North Carolina A&T in the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff in Montgomery, Ala., on ESPN. The Gamecocks home opener will be Sept. 8 vs. Mississippi Valley State. For ticket information on the opener and for JSU's five home games, contact the JSU Ticket Office at (256) 782-8499 or visit www.JSUGamecockSports.com/Tickets.